Saturday, October 4, 2008

What Is Cholesterol?


Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in all of your body's cells. Your body needs it in order to work properly. This is because your body uses cholesterol to hold cells together. Your body also uses it to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods.
However, if too much gets into your blood, it can cause problems. This is known as high cholesterol, hypercholesterolemia, or hyperlipidemia.

Where Does It Come From?

Cholesterol comes from two places. Your body actually makes most of what it needs in the liver. The rest comes from the foods you eat.
Cholesterol is only made by animals, so you can only get it by eating animal products, such as:
  • Meat
  • Chicken
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Cheese
  • Whole milk.
These foods can provide you with more than enough cholesterol. You will not find it in anything that comes from a plant. For example, cholesterol-free foods include fruits, vegetables, or whole grains.

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